Stop for detachable measuring tapes



AUS. 19, 1952 E. J. wn'cHGER 2,607,549

' STOP FOR DETACHABLE MEASURING TAPES I I Filed Dec. 15, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

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, dull. 2l/waan@ j U. 'mmm /20 il f 11 Patented Aug. 19, A1952 2,607,549 i s'roi FOR pE'r-ACHABLEMEASURING TAPES Eugene` J.. Vlvitchger,A Saginaw, VvMich., assigner to The Lufkin Rule Company,r Saginaw, Mich.

Application December 15, 1949, serial No. 133,13?)

One of the prime vobjects of the invention is to design a measuring tape which canv be readily removed and detached when damaged,l worn, or defaced, and a new tape substituted'therefor, or when it is desired to substitute a tape with special or different calibration, together with means for preventing the spring-tensioned strip from springing back into the casing should it be accidentally released or slip out of the users grasp yduring the attaching or detaching operation.

Another object of my invention is tofprovide easy and quickly operable means for detaching one measuring tape and replacing with another, eliminating the 'necessity of purchasing a completev new casing and unit, with the savings incident thereto. A

A further object of my invention is toprovide a simple, practical` and economical stop on the free end section of the' winding spring or tape extension thereof, so that the "extension endis" prevented from-springing into the case whenthe tape isbeing changed, thus eliminating the necessity of disassembly of the case toy retrieve the endl to permit attachment of another tape thereto.

A further object of my invention is to provide simple and durable locking means adjacent the ends of the spring extension strip and measuring tape respectively, so that the attachment and detachment can be quickly and easily accomplished by the average person without the use of tools and in a minimum length of time.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a readily bendable tab 'and stop of the type'described which can be easily manipulated and economicallyV manufactured, and which in no manner interferes with the normal winding of the strip and tape.

To the accomplishmentv of the, foregoing and related ends, said invention then consists o f the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and following description setting forth in detail, certain means and one mode of carrying out the invention, such disclosed means and mode illustrating, however, :but one of the vari- -ous ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, edge-elevational view showing my detchable tape secured to and forming a part of a conventional tape measure.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, plan view showing the attachment of the measuring tape to the winding spring strip.

comme. (o1. mgas)- Fig.' 3 is an inverted' plan view; A Fig. 4 is an'ed'ge-elevational view 'of' thetape and extended Winding spring extension preparatory to disconnection, the broken linesk indicating the manner in which the spring extension is bowed to facilitate detaching ofthe tape, the stop vbeing shownbent outwardly `from-the spring extension strip. p 1 f Fig. 5 is an edge-elevational view showing the tape removed and' the stop engaging theI edge of the tape openingfto prevent the-extension strip from springing intofthe casing. l i

When it is desi-redto change tapes, it is-*necessary to pull the tape outl of' the casing-until the one end of the spring winding strip isexposed7V after whichv the person must take -a -rm grip on the winding strip for the disconnectingoperation and then retain thisv vfirm grip to`Y prevent its` springing back intov the casing prior toand during the tape-*connection operation. IfV the grip is releasedfprior to 'the'connectiom the strip springs'back into the casing, which must then be disassembled to retrieve 'the end'ofthe strip so that a new tape can bey connected. This is bothirritating and time-consuming, and Ihave therefore provided stop means on the strip whichl can be bent into engagementwith the casingfto secure said strip in extended` position so that" both hands'are free'to make the connection.

Referring now, more particularly tothe accompanying' drawing" in which VI have .shown the preferred embodiment off my invention, the letterQ designatesv the conventional measuring tape,

casing'provided with an extending tape guide il anchored toa tape springA orr spring and drum4 (not shown) and a buttongD may bev provided centrally onl the casing for actuating'a'tape drum or/spindle as usual.

An inner-spring stripk or member r9 is. coiled on said tape drum and one end of; a measuringA tapeisdetachablysecuredi to the free end of said strip andina mannerztobe presently described. The outer end` section"V of the spring,extension 9 is' provided withlongitudinally spaced rivets I0' which serve as anchors for the attachment of the measuring tape I l, the heads l2 of the rivets being enlarged and projecting beyond the face the apertures of a size to slidably accomodate the shanks of the rivets I with the heads l2 overlapping the edges of the apertures, so that when the strip and tape are placed in superimposed relation as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, the members will be securely locked together and the tape measure can be utilized in any desired manner.

The restrictedA sections I4 of the apertures B open into an enlarged section l which is of suicient area to permit the head of the rivets, whenl brought into register, to freely pass therethrough, f and as is necessary when connecting or discon-H- necting the tape measure to or from; the spring strip.

A tab I6 is stamped in the spring or strip 9 at aA A point intermediate the rivet members l0, and iis Vhaving an aperture, a ilexible tape measure arranged for 4withdrawal from and retraction into said housing through said aperture, a tensioned stripcoilable in the housing and to which one end of the tape measure is detachably secured,

for the purpose of preventing the striprswingn ing back into the casing shouldvthe strip be accidentally released when the tape is being detached or attached, the coiling of the strip as it enters the casing causing the free end of thetab to spring outwardly from the main body and into engagement with the wall of the casing, thus holding the end of the strip extended, all as clearly shownin Fig. 5 of the drawing.

When the tape measure becomes worn, damaged or defaced and it is desired to substitute a new tape for the old, it is merely necessary to withdraw the tape from the casing until the end section of the strip 9 is clear, and as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The person then grasps the spring strip with one hand and the tape measure Il with the other,forcing the members endwise with relation to eachother so that the strip section will be bowed as clearly shown in broken lines in Fig. 4. Y

The bowing ofthe strip shortens the horizontal distance between the rivets so that one rivet head l2 may be broughtinto register with one The end 4ofv the tab I6 automatically springs outwardly or it can be pressed into engagement with the casing as shownin Fig. 5 of the drawing, the user then pullsv outwardly on the ystrip 9,` unreeling a suicient length so that a new tape can be attached, it'being merely necessary to reverse the operation above-described, this attaching meansbeing the subject matter of my com-` panion application iiled of even date herewith. It will, of course, be understood that the taby I6 can be used on other kinds of attachments and is not necessarily confined to the specific'` attach` ing means herein shown. v

After the tape has been attached, it is merely necessary to pull outwardly on the spring strip 9 and the free end of the tab I6 springs back to original position in alignment with the spring;v

strip, and the strip and tape can then be wound in the usual manner, said tape in no manner increasingv the thickness of the strip or interfering with the winding operation.

and a tab punched in said strip adjacent the outer end thereof for engagement with the housing to hold said strip in extended position.

2. The combination deiined in claim 1 in which the housing-engaging tab is readily windable with the strip without increasing the thickness of the coil when the strip is wound.

3. A measuring device comprising a housing having an aperture, a flexible tape measure ar-` ranged for withdrawal from and retraction into said housingrthrough said aperture, a tensioned strip windable in said housing and to which one end of the tape measure is detachably secured, and a tab punched in said strip adjacent the free end thereof and readily bendable outwardly therefrom for engagement with the wall of the housing to hold the strip in extended position.

4. A measuring device comprising ahousing having an aperture, a graduated tape measure arranged to be withdrawn from-or retracted into said housing, a strip of tensioned, resilient material windable in the housing and to which one end of the graduated tape measure is detachably connected, and means integral with said strip adjacent its outer free end and bendable outwardly fromrthe faceV of the strip for engagement -with the wall of the housing to hold said strip in extended position.

EUGENE J. WITCHGER.

REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the le of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS' f Great Britain 1902 

